President Obama: The Jews Built our Cities, Cured our Sick

Opening the Jewish Heritage Month in wake of reports regarding his upcoming speech, President Obama was very positive regarding the Jewish nation.

By Arutz Sheva TV

First Publish: 5/18/2011, 8:49 PM / Last Update: 5/19/2011, 1:14 AM

On Tuesday afternoon, President Barack Obama opened the official "Month of Jewish Heritage" at the White House.

President Obama welcomed some of the most influential Jews in the U.S. to the White House, from Members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices to Elie Wiesel, whom he called "a dear friend of mine and an inspiration to the world."

"This month," said Obama, "is a chance for Americans of every faith to appreciate the contributions of the Jewish people throughout our history –- often in the face of unspeakable discrimination and adversity. For hundreds of years, Jewish Americans have fought heroically in battle and inspired us to pursue peace."

The president acknowledged the many contributions of Jews to the United States. "They’ve built our cities, cured our sick. They’ve paved the way in the sciences and the law, in our politics and in the arts. They remain our leaders, our teachers, our neighbors and our friends."

"Not bad," concluded Obama, "for a band of believers who have been tested from the moment that they came together and professed their faith. The Jewish people have always persevered. And that’s why today is about celebrating the people in this room, the thousands who came before, the generations who will shape the future of our country and the future of the world."

As can be seen in the following video, Obama made sure to thank his guests and mention many of them. The atmosphere, as can be seen, was casual and light.